Heel-protector.



No. 898,233. A PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1908. I. LINCOLN.

HEEL PROTECTOR.

APPLIoATIoN FILED un. so, 1907.

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@Heimat sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss f No. 898,233. I PATENTEDSEPIYB, 1908. I. LINCOLN.

HEEL PROTECTOR. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3o, 1907.

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@Hor uit IRVIN LINCOLN, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

HEEL-PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 8, 1908.

Application filed January 30, 1907. Serial No. 354,917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IRvIN LINCOLN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Heel-Protectors, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in heel protectors designed.primarily to prevent the usual uneven wear to which the heel issubjected.

The main object of the present invention is the provision of a heelprotector which may be quickly and evenly applied to any heel and whichin use will prevent the wear of one portion of the heel in excess ofanother portion, thereby avoiding deterioration of the -shape of theshoe incident to kuse after uneven wear of the heel.

The invention will be described in the following specification,reference being had particularly to the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure l is a bottom perspective of a portion of the shoe illustrating'the application of my invention to the heel thereof, a portion of thesecuring band being broken out to show the application of the wearplates, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a slightly different form ofsecuring band and wear plate, Fig. 3 is a similar view of another formof band and wearin plate. F ig. 4 is a perspective view of anot ier formof heel protector, Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the same with theheel in place, Fig. 6 is a top plan with the heel removed, Fig. 7 asection on line 7-7 of Fig. 6, with the heel in position, Fig. S is amodification of the band shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 9 is a perspective viewof the form of wear plate shown in Fig. 6. Fig. l() is a plan of amodined securing band.

Referring particularly to the drawings, wherein similar referencenumerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, my improvedheel protector, in the form illustrated in Fig. l comprises a securingband l, preferably a thin metallic strip, and a series of wear plates 2,preferably of metal capable of resisting the wear to which the shoe isto be subjected. The heel 3 is reduced in sectional dimensions bycutting away the outer surface thereof to provide a channel 4 equalingin dimensions the dimensions of the band 1, so that when said band is inplace in the channel the surface thereof coincides with the eX- posedsurface of the heel. The channel 4 eX- tcnds to the lower surface of theheel, where by the lower edge of the band l terminates coincidently withthe lower surface of the heel. In that portion of the heel which issubjected to most wear in use I form recesses 5, extending to the lowersurface of the heel and co-eXtensive in height with that of the channel4. The walls of the recesses 5 incline outwardly relative to each otherin an upward direction, and toward each other in transverse section, aswill be clearly seen in Fig. 1. The wear plates 2 are designed to snuglyfit within the recesses 5, being exactly co-eXtensive with said recessesso that their relatively outer surfaces form a continuation of thechannel 4. The band l is seated in the channel 4 after the wear platesare placed in position, the ends of the band preferably overlapping atthe forward portion of the heel and being secured by a nail or othersuit able fastening, as 6. As the band snugly fits the channel 4 it isobvious that the wear plates 2 are held against movement from therecesses 5, the angular inclination of said plates serving to reventmovement of the plates longitudinal y relative to the recesses. Theplates are thus securely held in position on the heel through theformation of the recesses and the use of the securing band l, though itis obvious that said plates may be removed when desired by a removal ofthe band and the lateral movement of the plates relative to the recess.

In Fig. 2 is shown a slightly modified construction in which the wearplate is in the form of a U-shaped member 7, preferably of equalsectional dimension throughout. IVith this form of wear plate the recess5 in the heel will be of equal width throughout its length, as will beevident, and will, of course, be of a depth to receive only one of thearms of the plate. The securing band 8 in this form is of a size to fitthe arms of the plate 7, so that when said band is in position one ofthe arms thereof will rest against the outer surface of the band. Theband 8 is also preferably formed in its upper edge with a notch 9 toreceive the connecting bar of the arms of the wear late 7. The wearplate in this form is there y securely held in position by a directengagement with the band through the medium of the notch 7, said bandbeing preferably formed with a series of holes 10 for the reception ofadditional nails when desired.

1n the form shown in Fig. 3 the wear plate 11 is in the form of aninverted' L-shaped plate, the upper edge thereof being projectedaterally to provide a flange 12. This plate is secured in a recessformed in the edge of the heel similar to the recess 5 in the preferredform but co-extensive in dimensions with that of the plate 11. The band13 in this form is notched in the relatively upper edge at 14 to receivethe lianged portion 12 of the plate, thereby securing the plate againstindependent movement longitudinally relative to the heel. The wearplates of each of the forms described are thus secured againstindependent movement relative to the heel by the securing band and theform of the recess in the preferred form of the invention, and by thesecuring band alone in the modified form. In either construction thesecuring band is effective as a means for preventing independentmovement of the wear plates. 1t is, of course, to be understood that anynumber of wear plates desired is contemplated, and that their positionon the heel is to be arranged with particular regard to that portion ofthe heel most subjected to wear in the individual user.

In the form shown in Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive the band 15 is similar tothat described in connection with the preferred form, the straight edgeof which is preferably cut away from the upper edge to leave ears 16,which are bent laterally to project from the inner side of the band.These ears are preferably formed with holes 17 for a purpose which willpresently appear. provided at opposing points on its side edges withears 18 also perforated at 19, said ears being practically co-extensivewith the ears 16 and being soldered or otherwise secured to the innersurface of the band about midway the height of the latter. The wearplate in this form is a strip of suitable material 20 soldered orotherwise secured to the interior surface of the band to arrange thewear portion in alinement with the lower edge of the band. The wearplate is practically half the width of the band, and is provided on itslower edge with a holding strip 21 of a length to extend beyond the endsof the wear plate in the form of widened lips 22. In use this form ofband is secured to the heel by disposing the tongues 16 and 18betweenthe successive layers of heel material, as clearly shown in Fig.7, the band being further secured if desired by nails driven through theopenings in the respective tongues and into the rela- The band 15 isfurther tively upper layer 23 of the heel before the application of theouter or lower layer. The lips 22 of the holding strip of the wear plateare also disposed between the respective layers of the heel material,thereby securing said wear plate more firmly in position.

1n Fig. 8 the heel protector is shown in the form of a band 24 withwhich any of the forms of wear plates desired may be used, though lprefer the application of that form shown in Fig. 4. The relativelyupper edge of the band of this form of heel protector is formed with aseries of inwardly projecting tongues 25 designed to rest against and besecured to the upper layer of heel material, the lower layer of heelmaterial underlying the tongues and serving to secure the band firmly inplace. Any of the bands described may be used with a composite heel madeup of separate layers of different materials, as wood and leather or thelike, the particular construction of band providing for the effectivesecuring of the layers together in a manner to prevent disconnection ofthe protector.

In Fig. 10 is shown a modied form of securing band in that said band as26 is formed in two separate parts connected at one end as at 27, withthe imposing ends extended to form comparatively long overlying portions28 and 29, which are designed to be secured together in any desiredmanner. This form of band provides an effective and strong protectorparticularly adapted for heavy wear.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is

1. A heel composed of sections, one section being smaller than the otherto provide a recess extending continuously and entirely around the heeland of uniform depth, said recess having a notch in its vertical wall,in`

combination with a band proportioned to fill the recess with its outersurface flush with the outer surface of the larger section of the heeland with its bottom edge iiush with the bottom surface of the smallersection, means for securing the band firmly on the heel, and animperforate wearing element disposed in the said notch and arrangedunder the band and held in place by the latter.

2. A heel composed of layers, the bottom one of which being smaller thanthe other to form a peripheral recess extending horizontally around theentire heel, there being a vertical recess in the inner or vertical wallof the horizontally extending recess and of a length equal to the widthof the latter, in combination with a band disposed in the horizontalrecess and fastened to the heel, and an imperforate wear plate detachedand separate fromthe band and fitted in the vertical recess and bearingdirectly on and held in place by the band. y

3. A heel provided with vertically extending recesses taperingdownwardly7 wear hold the band tight against the plates and platescorresponding in shape to the recesses heel. 10 and prevented frommoving longitudinally In testimony whereof, I aflix my signaturetherefrom by the converging walls of the rein presence of two witnesses.

cesses, a band encircling the heel and bearing IRVIN LINCOLN. on theplates for preventing lateral displace- I/Vitnesses: ment of the latter,and fastenings extending F. H. LINCOLN,

through the band and piercing the heel to B. H. BRowNELL.

